Bongo’s Bingo – Crazy Night Review

Invited along for the first ever Bongo’s Bingo in Peterborough, my husband declined on a night of number ticking and prize winning, maybe he foresaw what a crazy mad night it was going to be……but even though I was a little naive, my friend Hayley and I loved it.

In the doors at 7.30pm to ensure getting a seat, we had tickets and bags checked on entry, got our drinks at the bar before grabbing some sweets for nibbling during the game. There was hot food to eat too if you wanted it, but I’d already eaten. We sat in reserved seats – thank goodness, because groups arriving were searching for enough seats for them to sit on together.
(Tip 1 – arrive early)

We chatted and listened to the background music, people watched and enjoyed our time drinking before the start of the game at 9pm – I’d have preferred it to have started at 8pm as it was a long wait, especially with it not finishing until midnight – and Cinderella needs her sleep of course! LOL

Girls upon girls upon girls and women arrived with a few men amongst the crowd. Birthday celebrations and hen night party celebration groups too. I was surprised that so many youngsters liked, what could be described as, boring bingo. However, The Cresset, with its stalls seating stored out of the way in the main auditorium, was rammed full of tables and chairs. I’d say 1000 people were here tonight, maybe less, but it was a full house (lol pun – get it?). The room was full of neon sticks swirling around in the air, luminous pink and orange hats being worn, lots of singing, dancing and noise.

9pm and mayhem let loose! What on earth have I let myself in for…? Violent Vicky and her pal came bouncing on stage in full mini dresses; swirling and twirling and what a sight for sore eyes! Definitely so when they both dropped their kegs and showed their bums to the screaming girls. Me? I was in shock and couldn’t stop laughing.

We actually played proper bingo and in great Bongo’s Bingo style there were some rules put up on the screen (great idea to read them too) on how to actually play! Comprehensible rules for the Virgin Bingo Goers. Play for a line, then 2 lines and then a full house. Each person has a book of 5 games with the whole set of 6 cards, and you are given a small marking off pen with your booklet on entry.
(Tip 2 – you don’t need your own pen)

Bless them, the youngsters on our table were crossing off the numbers on just one of the 6 cards as they’d never played before. Quickly after a line win, we added the numbers they’d missed and put them right. Phew – no good playing if wanting to win.
(Tip 3 – understand the rules before coming – ask your aunty)

There’s singing and dancing with the DJ and Compere throughout the evening: Richie Furness. If you had a song you wanted playing you could send a request in. Tell him of any celebrations too, to get a call out. Everyone is very quickly in the mood and joining in. Also with different numbers being called, there were particular well known songs to sing out: Number1 (All by myself – Celine), Number 7 (something by club 7), the ducks were still allowed – one quack and two quacks, along wth Number 69 which had Dick and Liddy on stage dancing their hearts out with saucy moves, kicks, twist and shoulder and thigh showing. Harmless fun and laughs all round.

Prizes? Firstly, you needed to be brave enough to collect your prize, as every time there was a winner, you had to go up and collect it on stage. Whilst up there; it was celebrated with explosions, smoke and cheers all round from the audience. There were some you wanted to win like the money for a full house: £50, £100, £200, £250 & £500, the Ninja cocktail smoothie maker, the Henry vacuum, the karaoke machine…. maybe the year’s worth of rice crispies although handfuls were thrown into the crowd so ended up being a few boxes, winning the fire whiskey, but having to drink some before being allowed to walk away, a bag of Gregg’s sausage rolls… and then there were the I’m not sure pile! – a bright pink space hopper (actually I’d taken that!), a cardboard cutout of David Attenborough (possibly as it was celebrating his 100th birthday), a double ended dildo (no thanks), a blow up sausage dog outfit (Hayley wanted that one), a giant pink unicorn (and I mean as big as us – we’d have fought over it!) and some more which I was laughing too hard to remember.

The drinks are flowing, the music is LOUD, the dancing on chairs is uncontrollable, talking is impossible, laughing is automatic, and having fun is essential. You don’t get chance to not have a bit of a laugh, and to be fair, when the numbers are being called out, it’s serious (I was surpised) – The audience go quiet until there’s a win, there’s no chanting or drunkenness whilst the game is on – it’s serious business. And….Gosh you better hope you’re not too drunk for marking off your numbers, because if you get it wrong……..you’re a Dickhead! LOL
(Tip 4 – make sure your mate’s checking you’re marking off the right numbers)

I don’t know how many LOL’s I can add into this write-up, but it’s a night with a difference: singing, dancing, playing, drinking, no one is too mad to handle, everything is a game for a laugh and you’ll have a fab time with your mates.

In seriousness: Breaks were around 10 minutes after a full house – and the queues to the women’s loo is too long as it always is. The other nearest loos are in the pub next door. (Tip 5: go to the loo when it’s not an interval).

The games started at 9pm and finished on the ding-dong of midnight.
(Tip 6: order your taxi for midnight rather than waiting to see when it will finish. The queues for picking up will be easier)

Would I go again? Hell, yes why not? I’m game for a laugh and I love bingo. Next time:

• – I’d arrive at the same time, 7.30pm, to ensure I got seats for us all.
• – I’d arrange to eat there to pass the time.
• – Take something warm to wear, but something cooler under. It’s cool when you get in, but is roasting when everyone has arrived.

Well worth the money for an entertaining night out (around £20 a ticket including your booking fee – early bird tickets are cheaper if you get in quick)
(Tip 7 – Book now!)

Want to book: Keep an eye on Bongo’s Bingo nights coming up (next ones 20th June & 24th July)